Fasting TDP Chief evicted to hospital as supporters resist

Amid high drama, Telugu Desam Party Chief N Chandrababu Naidu was today forcibly evicted from Andhra Pradesh Bhavan here by police and taken to a hospital on the fifth day of his indefinite fast against bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Hundreds of slogan-shouting TDP workers resisted eviction of the protesting leader, jostling with around 50 policemen who had to use force to make their way towards the podium where Naidu was sitting.
A heavily guarded ambulance, which was stationed at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan to ferry Naidu, was laid siege to by his supporters, including women cadre.
They raised slogans demanding justice and accused Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi for dividing the Telugu people in the name of Telangana. State government banners featuring Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy were vandalised, slippers hurled and effigies burnt.

A portion of the pandal set up on the premises for the event was also pulled down by the irate TDP supporters.
Police said 63-year-old Naidu, who was accompanied by TDP MPs and relatives, was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
Cops had a tough time during the hour-long operation on Andhra Pradesh Bhavan premises. Naidu was escorted to the ambulance by the policemen after which the women cadres blocked its way. Soon a large swarm of TDP workers joined them and the ambulance escorted by five police vehicles could move only after the policemen pushed them away.
Police changed the route of the convoy at the last minute to dodge Naidu supporters.